Native American Theatre Summary
Many know the history of Native Americans are brutal and sad. While some native societies are vital and thriving, others are withering and/or have disappeared. However, this allows diversity within the culture that creates as many dramas. Clear differences between the native societies result in dramatic events of different forms and purposes. Native American artists tend to display their involvement in their community by the dramatic work they create. Religious beliefs, although different, shape their drama by drawing on the most fundamental aspects. It reaffirms harmony, unity, and sacredness. Also, Native American drama use concepts of nonlinear time and dimensionless sacred place, without these concepts, the Native drama would be robbed of their meaning. Native drama can be described by its actors, setting, plot, dialogue, gestures, costumes, and movements. All of these aspects create a play unique to its cultural and are informative to those not apart of it. One type of Native drama is Navajo Chantways. Navajo Chantways are epic religious ritual dramas. They described as such because of the reference to the creation or recreation of the universe. Native Amerian theatre is rooted in communal celebration and ancient rituals. It is charged with the cosmic significance that sets it apart from the ordinary world. Another unique factor is the audience is participative.Native American theatre has encountered great difficulties and has a lack of literary plays written by Native Americans. The lost in culture years ago has affected the theatre today, however, the few Native American playwrights create their dramas with passion and diversity in order to educate non-natives in a way that may benefit the theatre and the culture in the long run.
Many know the history of Native Americans are brutal and sad. While some native societies are vital and thriving, others are withering and/or have disappeared. However, this allows diversity within the culture that creates as many dramas. Clear differences between the native societies result in dramatic events of different forms and purposes. Native American artists tend to display their involvement in their community by the dramatic work they create. Religious beliefs, although different, shape their drama by drawing on the most fundamental aspects. It reaffirms harmony, unity, and sacredness. Also, Native American drama use concepts of nonlinear time and dimensionless sacred place, without these concepts, the Native drama would be robbed of their meaning. Native drama can be described by its actors, setting, plot, dialogue, gestures, costumes, and movements. All of these aspects create a play unique to its cultural and are informative to those not apart of it. One type of Native drama is Navajo Chantways. Navajo Chantways are epic religious ritual dramas. They described as such because of the reference to the creation or recreation of the universe. Native Amerian theatre is rooted in communal celebration and ancient rituals. It is charged with the cosmic significance that sets it apart from the ordinary world. Another unique factor is the audience is participative.Native American theatre has encountered great difficulties and has a lack of literary plays written by Native Americans. The lost in culture years ago has affected the theatre today, however, the few Native American playwrights create their dramas with passion and diversity in order to educate non-natives in a way that may benefit the theatre and the culture in the long run.